Dr. Augustine Fou's Online Scrapbook

Thursday, September 05, 2013

Lenovo Vibe X stuffs 5-inch 1080p display, quad-core chip into slim and light body

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/lenovo-vibe-x-ideaphone-s960-mt6589t/

While Lenovo's Snapdragon 800-powered phone has yet to make an official appearance, the Chinese company's gone ahead and unveiled its other quad-core flagship device: the Vibe X aka IdeaPhone S960. Much like most of its recent siblings, this Android 4.2 slate is powered by a MediaTek SoC -- the quad-core 1.5GHz MT6589T, specifically, with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of built-in storage. There's also a 5-inch 1080p IPS display and a 2,000mAh internal battery, along with a 5-megapixel, 84-degree front-facing camera plus a 13-megapixel main imager on the back. As you'd expect, the camera app will come with face enhancement features for your bad skin days, and Lenovo also teases a "full-featured" photo app that lets you organize your photos (with tags and folders), as well as making puzzles with them.

Thanks to Gorilla Glass 3 and the "premium polycarbonate body" (with "fabric-like surface" and side chrome accents), the overall package weighs 121g only and is just 6.9mm thick -- the same thickness as the slightly larger but metallic, Intel-powered K900. Also, while the Vivo X3 with the same MediaTek chip and battery capacity is way thinner at 5.75mm (sorry, Huawei!), do bear in mind that its 5-inch display only has a 720p resolution.

There's no price nor a date just yet, but as with most Lenovo phones these days, we've been told that the Vibe X will not be entering either Europe or the US. As the Chinese saying goes: you can quench thirst by thinking of the plums. By "plums" we mean the press release and our first impressions after the break. %Gallery-slideshow79651% %Gallery-slideshow79657%

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Lenovo

Samsung announces the world's first curved UHD TVs at IFA 2013

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/samsung-reveals-the-world-s-first-curved-uhd-tvs-at-ifa-2013/

You didn't think Samsung was done announcing TVs at IFA yet, did you? This time, Samsung's folded two of its new TV notions into one set, announcing the world's first curved Ultra High Definition TVs. They don't appear to be OLED (so our money's on LED), but the new screens will be available in both 55-and 65-inch sizes. the company saying that differently-sized curved UHD TVs sets will come, "based on consumer response", so if people are buying 'em big, these high-pixel curves could get bigger too -- Samsung's range of flat 4K TVs now stretches to a one-percenter-baiting 98 inches. At almost the same time, Sony has just taken the wraps off its own curved display, a 65-inch LED TV -- but it's not UHD. Hyun-suk Kim, executive VP of Visual Display, reckons the new TVs are another milestone for the company, and will "invigorate" the UHD market, one that's only just taking its first steps.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

Hands-on with the LG G Pad 8.3 (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/hands-on-lg-g-pad-8-3/

Handson with the LG G Pad 83 video

LG announced its new slate, complete with specs, ahead of IFA, but the tradeshow is our first opportunity to see the G Pad 8.3 in the flesh -- or in the aluminum package, as it were. The company is positioning this tablet as the first full HD tablet in the 8.0-inch category, and as the device best optimized for one-handed use. Specific as those distinctions may be, they do sound pretty appealing.

First thing's first: the G Pad 8.3 in our hands today is not the final version that will ship at the end of the month. LG likely has some software kinks to work out, but it's safe to say that today's model gives us a good idea of what consumers can expect. The G Pad is part of LG's flagship G series line, which includes high-end handsets like the Optimus G Pro and the recently announced G2. As such, this guy looks like a bigger version of its smartphone siblings, which is to say it looks quite nice. The bezels are almost non-existent, and the backside features a silver aluminum backing -- it's a nice contrast to the Pad's black or white plastic finish. The 8.3-inch, 1,920 x 1,200 IPS panel provides the vibrant colors and excellent viewing angles that you'd expect; we've seen similarly high caliber displays on other LG devices like the Optimus G Pro.

At 338 grams, the G Pad is extremely light; a rep made sure to point out that some paperback books even weigh more. Less weight means the tablet is easier to hold in one hand -- even with LG reps talking up the device's featherweight footprint, we found it surprisingly insubstantial. More than the weight, though, the device's 126.5mm makes it quite comfortable to use. And guess what? It can also fit in a jacket pocket, which may or may not improve your life dramatically. LG utilized data collected by the Korean government about the average hand size in order to arrive at an optimal width for the tablet. We found the slate quite comfortable to grasp with just one hand; it didn't feel like a stretch to grasp across the device.%Gallery-slideshow79665%

Filed under: Tablets, LG

T-Mobile to launch LG G2 in stores on September 25th, sells Optimus F6 today

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/t-mobile-to-launch-lg-g2-on-september-25th/

At last, the LG G2 has a US release date: T-Mobile is shipping the Android flagship to stores on September 25th, with online availability starting September 18th. The 5.2-inch smartphone will require a $100 initial spend on a downpayment plan, and costs $630 outright. Both black and white colors will be available, although you'll have to order the white version online; thankfully, you can pre-order either model today. Too expensive for your tastes? You can buy the newly available Optimus F6 instead. The 4.5-inch budget smartphone is now selling online for $50 on a downpayment plan, or $290 at full price. Those who'd prefer a walk-in purchase can pick up the F6 at a retail store on September 11th.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, LG, T-Mobile

Source: T-Mobile (G2), (Optimus F6)

Eyes-on with LG's 55-inch Gallery OLED TV (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/eyes-on-lg-55-inch-gallery-oled/

LG's showing off its new 55-inch OLED set here at IFA, and (get this) it's not a curved one. Though it's bucking the trend made so popular by LG itself (along with Samsung), the product is hardly boring; the so-called Gallery comes complete with a sound bar disguised as an art mat. LG's included its canvas speakers all around the panel to pump out 2.2-channel sound, along with a subwoofer.

In theory, the Gallery (model 55EA8800, if you must know) sounds a bit gaudy, but the execution is anything but. For one, it looks sleek despite the soundbar backing -- it won't distract your eye from the 55-inch panel. Colors looked extremely vibrant, and images extremely clear, when we viewed the OLED in LG's booth at IFA. Sound quality is strong as well. This is a straightforward (premium) TV, of course, but if you want to leverage the product's artsy pedigree, you can enable Gallery Mode, which displays a selection of works of art from Van Gogh and others. The set ships with a simple, thin black frame, but other, more elaborate options could become available later on.

The Gallery and the sound bar "art mat" will be sold as a bundle for €8,999. An LG booth attendant told us the TV will launch at the end of the year, though the company has made no official comment. Check out the eyes-on video for a closer look.%Gallery-slideshow79668%

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, LG

Haier's new OLED TV is harder to push over than most

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/haier-tv-stand/

Eye control is all well and good, but what Haier was really pumped about at this year's IFA was its new 55-inch OLED set. And, granted, the set is nice and thin at four millimeters, with a 1.5 millimeter bezel. What the company was really excited about, however, was the built-in stand. Yep, it's a four millimeter thick TV that can stand on its own, making it really difficult to push over in one direction, at least. We appreciate the sentiment, but we'll be more excited when we can start controlling the thing with our brains.

Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

drag2share: 'WAKE UP, YOU LITTLE...' Dad Wakes To Hear A Man Talking To His Little Girl Through Her Internet-Connected Baby Monitor

source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/businessinsider/~3/Xv3iqhg-oNU/the-dark-side-of-the-internet-of-things-2013-9

baby monitor

There is a new trend in technology called "the Internet of things."

All your household electronics and appliances are getting connected to the Internet – everything from your lights to your thermostats.

In the long run, connecting these things to the Internet will provide all sorts of conveniences and efficiencies.

But there is a dark side to the Internet of Things.

Forbes, for example, just published a story by Kashmir Hill about a man named Marc Gilbert who woke up on the night of his 34th birthday to hear a sound coming from his 2-year-old daughter's bed room.

Gilbert says he heard a man saying to his daughter: "Wake up, you little slut."

Awful.

The voice was coming through her Internet-connected baby monitor.

Hill says the hacker probably found the baby monitor through a search engine called Shodan, which indexes the "Internet of Things" the way Google indexes the regular Internet.

Shodan can find all kinds of stuff: webcams, traffic lights, glucose meters.

Scary.

Hill says the key to protecting yourself against invasions like the one Gilbert went through is to never buy an Internet-connected gadget that is not password protected. Also, if you buy one that comes with a default password and user name, change it immediately.

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drag2share - drag and drop RSS news items on your email c! ontacts to share (click SEE DEMO)

Enable Google's Hidden Themes for the Stock Android Keyboard

Source: http://lifehacker.com/enable-googles-hidden-themes-for-the-stock-android-key-1253487329

Enable Google's Hidden Themes for the Stock Android Keyboard

If you don't love the look of Android's stock keyboard, Google actually has a few other themes built-in. You just need to uncover them with this trick.

You'll need a custom launcher that can access Android Activities for this to work, like Apex or Nova—which we highly recommend downloading anyway, since they're awesome. Once you've got one installed, just follow these steps:

Long-press on the home screen and head to Shortcuts > Activities from the menu that pops up.
Choose "Google Keyboard" (or "Android Keyboard (AOSP)" depending on your device and Android version), and head to "Android Keyboard Debug Settings." This will create a shortcut on your home screen.
Tap that new shortcut and you'll get some advanced settings for your stock keyboard. Choose "Keyboard Theme" to pick a new theme for your keybaord.

Enable Google's Hidden Themes for the Stock Android Keyboard

You can choose from Basic (which is the pre-Gingerbread theme), Stone, Gingerbread, and IceCreamSandwich (the default on ICS and higher), with a few variations. Pick which one you like, and enjoy!

Google Keyboard Themes | Google Operating System

Nikon's Tiny LED Light Keeps Darkness Out of Your Camera's Way

Source: http://gizmodo.com/nikons-tiny-led-light-keeps-darkness-out-of-your-camer-1255317688

Nikon's Tiny LED Light Keeps Darkness Out of Your Camera's Way

Nikon's LD-1000 LED movie light is an inexpensive, portable lighting solution that could make shooting video with company's Nikon 1 mirrorless cameras a lot easier. The always-on light mounts to your camera and keeps the scene in front of you continuously illuminated with what Nikon promises is a natural-looking, diffuse white glow.

Harman Kardon's Esquire Bluetooth speaker doubles as a conference system, fits in a briefcase

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/harman-kardon-esquire-bluetooth-speaker-and-conference-system/

Business professionals who've dreamt of having a portable conference system and Bluetooth speaker combo have just had their wish granted. Harman Kardon's aluminum and leather-clad Esquire portable speaker features two drivers, a bass port and noise-cancelling conference microphones. Placing the unit upright adjusts its mics for one person, while laying it flat works best for multiple people. The design is relatively clean, but you'll find physical buttons at its side for power, playback, mute, volume and Bluetooth pairing (NFC-pairing is also an option). An internal battery keeps it juiced for up to ten hours and its wall charger has three USB ports to handle your smartphone and extra gizmos. The Esquire will be available for your business travels later this year in white, black and "camel."

Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!

Filed under: Portable Audio/Video

Source: Harman Kardon

Sony's next 4K projector will be merely expensive, not outrageous

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/sonys-vpl-vw500es-projector/

Sony has just announced the VPL-VW500ES 4K projector at IFA 2013 in Berlin, and though it didn't name a price, said it'll be much cheaper than its first 4K projector. Before you start re-arranging your theater room, though, the original VPL-VW1000ES cost a cool $25,000, so "cheaper" might be a relative term. If you're undeterred, though, you'll get full 4,096 x 2,160 4K resolution thanks to native 4K SXRD panels -- technology that Sony lifted from its commercial cinema projectors. Other perks include 1,700 ANSI-lumen brightness (compared to 2,000 for the VW1000ES), a 200,000:1 contrast ratio, "Super Resolution" Blu-ray to 4K upscaling, Motionflow tech for less blur, and support for HDMI 2.0 -- which permits 60fps 4K. Again, Sony hasn't mentioned a price yet, but we did see it at a French retailer for 10,000 euros, meaning a $10,000 price seems feasible.

Sony also dropped a Full HD 3D model, the VPL-HW55ES projector, which replaces the VPL-HW50ES as its top 1080p dog while using the same SXRD tech. It boasts 1,700 ANSI-lumens, a 120,000:1 contrast ratio, a 5,000 hour lamp, an optical engine upgrade and Reality Creation technology. Both projectors offer wireless HDMI compatibility, and will arrive at some point next month. For more minutiae, check the PR after the break.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Sony

Toshiba's Satellite Click detachable PC promises better graphics than your typical budget system

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/toshiba-satellite-click-detachable-pc/

We get it: speeds and feeds aren't everything. But this might be a rare case where a chip could actually make the whole story. Toshiba announced the Satellite Click today, and until you get to the spec sheet, it reads like a totally forgettable product. What we have here is a 13-inch detachable tablet with a 500GB hard drive inside the tablet and an extra battery inside the keyboard dock. Sounds like lots of other things you've read about, right? Well, lo and behold, the Click is actually one of the first products to ship with AMD's Temash chip, whose graphics prowess we showed you back at CES. To be fair, this is a dual-core 1GHz A4-1200 processor with AMD Radeon HD 8180 graphics, not the quad-core one we demoed earlier. Even so, the general concept is the same: this is a system-on-a-chip tailored for tablets that makes use of AMD's 28nm Graphics Core Next architecture, which you'll also find inside some of AMD's discrete GPUs. Depending on the exact chip, Temash promises to compete with Intel's Atom processors as well as its Core i3 series. Unlike a Core i3 tablet, though, Temash allows for a fanless design, more akin to what you'd expect from an Atom or ARM-powered device.

Also, it drives down the cost. The Click will go for about $599, making it $150 cheaper than the Core i3-powered HP Split x2, which also has a 13-inch screen, dual batteries and a 500-gig hard drive in the dock. Granted, there are likely to be tradeoffs, and we suspect battery life could be one of them, if not speed. A Toshiba rep estimated runtime at three to four hours for the tablet only, and six to seven hours with the dock. That wouldn't match up well against a new Haswell hybrid but then again, some of its competitors (like the Split x2) are based on Ivy Bridge, which isn't so hot in the longevity department either. The Click will be available later this month exclusively at Best Buy and on Toshiba's site.

Update: We've just seen the Click on display here at IFA... sort of. Toshiba is showing off the European version, the Satellite W30t, which for whatever reason ships with an Intel Core processor, not an AMD Temash chip. So, similar design (save for the fans), but very different performance, we'd imagine.%Gallery-slideshow79645%%Gallery-slideshow77126%

Filed under: Tablets, AMD

Toshiba's 11-inch Satellite NB15t laptop offers touch and 802.11ac WiFi for $380 (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/toshiba-satellite-nb15t/

Toshiba's 11inch Satellite NB15t laptop offers touch and 80211ac WiFi for $380 handson

Toshiba probably doesn't appreciate us calling its new 11-inch laptop a netbook. But it's the same size as a netbook, and with an MSRP of $380, it's priced like one too. Heck, the Satellite NB15t, as it's called, even follows the same naming convention as the netbooks Toshiba sold back in 2010. The nice thing about netbooks in the Windows 8 era, though, is that for the money, you also get a touchscreen. And in this case, 802.11ac WiFi. Yep, that's right: though we can't vouch for how fast a machine this will be, it does at least carry a touch panel and the latest wireless standard, two things we wouldn't normally expect to find on a low-end system.

Rounding out the list, you get a Celeron processor, 500GB of storage and 4GB of RAM -- not bad considering other cheapie touchscreen machines like the Pavilion TouchSmart 11 start with 320 gigs and still cost more. The only problem is that you'll have to wait until the holiday shopping season is half over until you can buy one: Toshiba says the NB15t won't actually ship until November. Fortunately for you, though, we've already had a few minutes of hands-on time.%Gallery-slideshow79646%%Gallery-slideshow79616%

Filed under: Laptops

Panasonic's 20-inch 4K Toughpad tablet ships in November for about €4,500

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/panasonics-20-inch-4k-tablet/

Panasonic's 4K Toughpad tablet initially debuted at CES in January, but here at IFA in Berlin, the company is finally ready to shed some light on availability. Speaking at a press conference focused on the device, GM Jan Kampfer detailed the giant slate, which includes a fiberglass housing and sports a 3,840 x 2,560 (230 ppi) power-efficient IPS display with 176-degree viewing angles. The UT-MB5 supports 10-finger touch and includes a Bluetooth-enabled optical Anoto Live Pen with a six-hour battery life and palm rejection. The Toughpad was designed with creative types in mind, such as artists and architects -- though we wouldn't mind having one around as a fantastic (albeit pricey) portable 4K movie viewer.

There will be two models: a Standard flavor that weighs in 2.3kg and includes 4GB (expandable to 8GB) of RAM and a 128GB SSD, and a 2.7kg Performance model with 8GB RAM (expandable to 16GB) and a 256GB SSD. The company is targeting design pros with that latter version, such as those working with 3D modeling tools, while the lower-powered spec would be a better fit for healthcare users, retail or sales professionals. Panasonic aimed for workstation performance here, so both devices include Intel Core i5 processors and run on Windows 8.1. There are three USB 3.0 ports, HDMI out, an SD card slot and an optional desktop cradle and mounting point adapter. They're also quite durable, and are reinforced to survive 76 cm (2.5 ft) drops. The Standard model will ship in November, while the Performance slate is expected in early 2014.

Update: Microsoft is reporting that the device will ship in the US and Europe beginning this Saturday, September 7th, but Panasonic executives at the IFA event are confirming a November timeframe. The Toughpad on stage is being described as a "prototype," further reinforcing that the slate is not ready to ship.

Update 2: Panasonic reps quoted pricing for the standard version at €4,508 (about $6,000), with the Performance version MSRP to be announced. The optional pen will retail for €280 (about $370).

Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!

Filed under: Tablets

Eyes-on with Toshiba's 50-inch concept 4K TV

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/toshiba-50-inch-4k-tv-eyes-on/

If you want an 84-inch 4K TV, you've really gotta be a one-percenter, but fortunately for the rest of us that's not a very big market. That's why it's high time that companies started to trim those ultra high-definition panels down to a size and price point that's suitable for the everyman. It's Toshiba, therefore, that's leading the charge to affordability with a concept 50-inch 4K TV. The M9/L9 Series Concept is currently just that, but it combines the usual breathtaking imagery with a more apartment-friendly size. Naturally, there aren't currently any plans to bring this to market, but hey, the company will happily sell you a 58-inch model for £3,000.%Gallery-slideshow79649%

Dana Wollman contributed to this report.

Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Samsung shows off 98-, 110-inch Ultra HDTVs at IFA 2013, teases 4K OLED

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/samsung-98-110-4k-oled/

At Samsung's press conference it's bringing some of those extra large Ultra HD TVs it promised at CES, and mentioned something even more tantalizing: a 4K OLED. Unfortunately that last one did not make an appearance on stage, however the company has promised it will be present in its booth for demos tomorrow. We expect that, like the ones shown by Sony and Panasonic at CES, this is just a prototype, but if it's anywhere near as beautiful as those we can't wait to see it. As far as products that are actually shipping, Samsung also showed off its 55-inch curved OLED again, as well as the 65-inch F9000 UHD TV. As far as the supersized 4K sets, Samsung is showing off 98-inch and 110-inch models that outsize the 85-inch behemoth it kicked this crazy trend off with back in January. Finally, it's trying to address the issue of high-res content, with representatives from Eutelsat and TF1 present to talk about the projects they have in the works.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD, Samsung

Source: Samsung Tomorrow Liveblog, Samsung

Philips intros 65- and 84-inch 4K TVs priced at â¬4,999 and â¬14,999

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/philips-intros-65-and-84-inch-4k-tvs-priced-at-4-999-and-14-9/

New 4K TVs from Philips? We can't say we didn't see 'em coming. Heck, Philips even won an award for one of them. The company was waiting for the main event here at IFA to make the thing officially official, however. Philips took to the stage today to show off two entries in its 9000 series -- 65- and 84-inch models. The company's promising an "attractive price point here" -- that means €4,999 ($6,588) for the smaller 65PFL9708 and €14,999 ($19,768) for the 84PFL9708. Both sets feature Ultra Pixel HD Engine technology for upscaling, given the still somewhat limited selection of 4K content. The 65 and 84 are both available now in the UK and Russia.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Dash Robotics's DIY robots controlled by smartphones, look like insects (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/dash-robotics-diy-smartphone/

DNP Dash Robotics

What could kids find more fun (and parents find more affordable) than fancy toy robots? Toy robots they build themselves that scurry around like horrifyingly gigantic insects. That's what a startup called Dash Robotics hopes to offer if it reaches its $64,000 goal on new crowdfunding site, Dragon Innovation. Each Dash kit contains a flat panel made out of a plastic-and-cardboard material with precut parts you'll have to piece together like Legos. Those parts will enclose an electronic component that lets you control the six-legged robot with either an iOS or an Android app, although the company can't guarantee the latter. Prototypes will be available to the first 1,000 backers who pledge at least $65, but everyone else might be able to get their own later -- Dash Robotics hopes to release its kits commercially and to keep them priced below $70.

Source: Dash Robotics, Dragon Innovation

Lenovo announces Yoga 2 Pro with 3,200 x 1,800 screen, slimmer design (hands-on)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/05/lenovo-yoga-2-pro-hands-on/

We think we can all agree the Lenovo Yoga has been long due for an upgrade: while every other flagship Ultrabook got refreshed with Haswell, the Yoga 13 stuck around with Ivy Bridge and a relatively low-res 1,600 x 900 display. It was getting so long in the tooth, in fact, that we almost didn't recommend it in our most recent laptop buyer's guide. Well, Lenovo's finally giving us the upgrade we've been asking for, and if specs are any indication, it might have actually been worth the wait.

The new Yoga 2 takes a big step up to a 13-inch, 350-nit, 3,200 x 1,800 touchscreen, putting it well ahead of its peers, most of which max out at 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. As you'd expect, this new model runs on fourth-gen Intel Core processors (all the way up to i7), with the battery life now rated at up to nine hours. The Yoga also adds Intel Wireless Display, in accordance with the current Ultrabook spec. Equally important: the new model measures 15.5mm thick (versus 17.1mm on the original) and sheds about half a pound so that it now weighs a little over 3 pounds (3.06, to be exact, or 1.39kg). And believe us when we say that half-pound makes a difference: chalk it up to muscle memory, but we could instantly feel the difference when we picked it up for the first time. We don't remember the original ever being this thin or light. %Gallery-slideshow73818%%Gallery-slideshow76615%

Filed under: Laptops, Lenovo

Wednesday, September 04, 2013

Galaxy Gear Hands On: More Watch Than You'll Ever Need

Source: http://gizmodo.com/galaxy-gear-hands-on-more-watch-than-youll-ever-need-1252470567

Samsung's smartwatch is really real. And really awkward. We got some hands on time with the brand new ticker—called Galaxy Gear—and these are our first impressions.

Design

Galaxy Gear comes in six different colors that are reminiscent of playful Swatch wristwear. But Gear is a lot heftier than any old Swatch ticker. It has a big, rather sharp 1.63-inch diagonal display that dwarfs my wrists, which are rather small, but it would be bulky regardless. That said, any any smaller and you wouldn't be able to see anything. This is the the first problematic thing you notice about smartwatches.

Galaxy Gear Hands On: More Watch Than You'll Ever Need

The band is thick and stiff, but presumably it would loosen up once Galaxy Gear is broken in. It fits onto your wrist with a clasp like any other watch. But the screen slides around, and that's a little uncomfortable. Plus, wearing something this substantial would definitely take some getting used to, which is a common theme with the Galaxy Gear as a whole.

Using It

This is something you'll also have to acclimate to, because rather than your usual swiping and tapping that you've become used to with your smartphone, Galaxy Gear requires a series of vertical and horizontal swipes. On the home screen you see weather and time default (and no, you can't change it, it's fixed). Swipe left and right to see your different folders; there's one for settings, another for apps, another for your photos, one for the pedometer, and so on. From any folder, you can swipe down from the top to return to the home screen.

To move within folders you swipe up and down, which takes a little getting used to. It's something you'll figure out, but it just doesn't feel terribly intuitive.

Galaxy Gear Hands On: More Watch Than You'll Ever Need

The camera is located on the side of the strap you'd wear facing outward. Just swipe through your folders until you get there, at which point you just tap to take a photo. You can shoot video, too, by tapping another icon in the top left corner.

The camera is actually situated quite perfectly for creepshots. Seriously, I took three photos of a guy across the table and he had no idea. As far as he knows, I was just checking out my pedometer.

Galaxy Gear Hands On: More Watch Than You'll Ever Need

Performance

On first use, Galaxy Gear seems pretty responsive. It swipes quickly and smoothly between apps. We weren't able to test out texting, but we started a call that popped right up on the screen of the Note 3, more speedily than anticipated.

Overall, Galaxy Gear feels kind of awkward both to wear (it's chunky) and to use (it's unnatural, although that's to be expected since it's a new type of input). All that could be worth it, though, the fitness apps (which we weren't able to test) are killer, and if moving between your Galaxy smartphone and your watch are as seamless as it seemed to be in our test.

Granted, Galaxy Gear was chained to a table, so we didn't get to use apps and other features like email and S Voice. Walking around with the thing could be a whole different ball game. I would love to give Galaxy Gear a try with say, RunKeeper, for example, which I use all the time on my smartphone. The smartwatch seems like it would actually be better than the fitness trackers on the market right now because it has a screen and you can simply do more with it. But $300 is a lot for a souped up fitness tracker, and as far as the basic smartphone functions Galaxy Gear is capable of, those feel a little strange and counterintuitive.

Galaxy Gear Hands On: More Watch Than You'll Ever Need

Galaxy Gear Hands On: More Watch Than You'll Ever Need

Qualcomm makes a timely entrance with full-featured Toq Mirasol smartwatch (hands-on video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/qualcomm-toq-smartwatch/

Qualcomm's certainly made a name for itself in the mobile chipset space, but the company's past attempts at creating a fully baked consumer device have not been tremendously successful. Take FLO TV, for example. The pocketable television receiver had potential, but a botched execution left the firm with an embarrassing failure. It's this legacy that leaves us cautiously optimistic about today's product introduction, a full-function smartwatch called Toq.

Why is Qualcomm designing, marketing and selling a smartwatch, you ask? The answer lies in a troubled display tech called Mirasol. We got our first good look at this low-power color display technology at CES back in 2010. Since then, Mirasol has had a hard time catching on, with manufacturing costs a likely culprit. We've seen new iterations each year, mostly in the form of prototype e-readers, but a decision to shutter production last summer seemingly marked the final straw for the inventive concept. Then, we regained hope following this year's SID Display Week, where two new high-res panels made their debut, including one in a smartwatch. Curiously, that wearable we saw in May bears little resemblance to the product we're meeting today, which you'll find detailed in full after the break.%Gallery-slideshow73561%

Filed under: Wearables

Source: Qualcomm

Samsung flaunts its My Magazine Flipboard-style homescreen for the Galaxy Note 3

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/samsung-flaunts-its-my-magazine-flipboard-style-homescreen-at-if/

In the midst of its numerous Unpacked Episode 2 unveilings, Samsung's just given us a peek at a new piece of the Galaxy Note 3 puzzle: My Magazine. At a glance, it looks like a mashup between Flipboard's curated magazine app and HTC's Blinkfeed-infused homescreen. That's not surprising given Samsung's recent collaboration with Flipboard, and there are similarities with that app, like different panels for news feeds and deep social integration. You can access it by swiping up from the bottom, a new twist for Samsung -- for a deeper plunge, check our Galaxy Note 3 preview post.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Samsung

Android 4.3 arriving for Galaxy S III and Galaxy S 4 in October

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/android-4-3-arriving-for-galaxy-s-3-and-galaxy-s-4-in-october/

Today's Unpacked event was all about Samsung's new Notes and its Galaxy Gear, but there's good news for folks with older hardware. Turns out, Android 4.3 is coming to the Galaxy S III and Galaxy S 4 in October along with the update that'll add Galaxy Gear functionality to the GS 4. Let's hope none of the Nexus gremlins made their way into Samsung's Galaxy.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Gear apps include Path, Pocket, RunKeeper and more

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/samsung-galaxy-gear-apps/

Samsung's Galaxy Gear smartwatch will launch with 70 native apps, and it turns out that there's quite a few heavy-hitters in that bunch. Path is available to share photos taken from the Gear's wriststrap; Pocket users, meanwhile, can have Gear read saved articles out loud. And fitness apps will definitely be in vogue -- RunKeeper, MyFitnessPal, Phigolf and others have embraced Samsung's vision. There are too many other apps to list them all, although we've noticed big-name titles like Snapchat in the mix. If you're planning to pick up Samsung's wristwear in the next few weeks, there won't be any shortage of things to do with it.

Filed under: Cellphones, Wearables, Mobile, Samsung

Source: Pocket

Samsung opens up Knox security platform to all consumers

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/samsung-opens-up-knox-security-platform-to-all-consumers/

Samsung's Knox security solution has tended to mostly garner headlines when the company's phones get approval from the likes of the US Defense Department, but it's now set to broaden its user base considerably. In addition to announcing that it's bolstering the offering with some help from Lookout, Samsung has also confirmed today that its opening the platform up to all consumers. That will give security-minded users an added layer of protection, with Knox letting you store personal data and run a set of pre-screened apps in a so-called container -- other apps can still be run outside the container, but with only limited access to your personal information. Naturally, you'll need a Samsung device to take advantage of it. The company says all of its upcoming devices will offer support for the service, and it's promising to provide details on commercial availability for the Galaxy S III, Galaxy S4, and Galaxy Note II "shortly."

Filed under: Cellphones, Samsung

Source: Samsung

Xiaomi Phone 3 makes early appearance on online store ahead of launch

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/xiaomi-phone-3-mi3-leak/

As this author was fiddling with his Xiaomi Phone 2S (or MI2S) in bed ahead of Xiaomi's big event tomorrow, he spotted something odd: a thumbnail of an unfamiliar device -- next to the entry-level Red Rice aka Hongmi -- in the company's online store app. Since it's a high-resolution image, we're able to zoom into our screenshot (full version after the break) to see this Lumia-like design but with a flatter back. The long flash strip also suggests that this could be a beefed-up dual-LED flash module. Other than that, there's not much else that we can pick up here.

Given the clock on this mysterious phone matches the 2pm start time of tomorrow's event, we're pretty certain that this is Xiaomi's third-gen flagship device, the MI3; and it'll likely be announced alongside the Xiaomi TV. We also recall seeing the same back cover leaked way back in February, and the side-by-side shot with the MI2 (embedded after the break) suggests that this new phone will likely have a 5-inch screen. Judging by the pattern so far, we bet it'll use Qualcomm's beastly Snapdragon 800 SoC to follow the 600 on the MI2S. Ultimately, it'll be all about the price, which is likely to be no more than CN¥1,999 or about US$330 off contract.

While the above product thumbnail appears to be stuck in the cache on our MI2S, the same spot is occupied by the proper MI2S image in the same app on our MI2A. Talk about perfect timing, eh? Now, if you'll excuse us, we have some sleep to catch.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Hisense picks up Hillcrest Labs' gesture and motion control tech for TVs

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/hisense-hillcrest-labs-freespace-gesture-and-motion-control/

Following LG and TCL, Hisense is now the latest TV manufacturer to adopt Hillcrest Labs' Freespace technology. According to the agreement, Hisense, the world's fifth largest smart TV brand (as of Q1 2013, according to NPD DisplaySearch), will be able to add in-air pointing, gesture control and motion control -- all via a remote control -- to its future smart TVs and set-top boxes. This also means TCL now faces a fellow Chinese competitor with the same set of Freespace features. While there's no time frame just yet, we've been told that Hisense will eventually sell these next-gen devices in the US and China later this year, so stay tuned.

Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD

Panasonic leaks 65-inch 4K LCD, HDMI 2.0 prior to IFA announcement

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/panasonic-ifa-4k-hdmi-2.0-wt600-leak/

Panasonic is one of the few electronics companies that's not pushing a 4K TV right now, but that is apparently about to change. An AV Forums reader spotted a few webpages cached prior to the company's launch event that show off not only its upcoming 4K res WT600 television, but also details of the HDMI 2.0 spec. The current HDMI 1.4 connectors can only handle 4K content at 30fps, and the page mentions HDMI 2.0 will support at least 60fps, but any further capabilities are unknown. The Panasonic WT600 details shown include that it will support DisplayPort 1.2 as well as 4K specific features like a web browser, media player, rendering engine and THX certification. The only disappointing part, as the post points out, is that there's no sign yet of Panasonic's sweet 4K OLED prototype which combines both of this year's high-priced HDTV buzzwords in one lovely display. The HDMI licensing group has a press conference scheduled for IFA on Friday while Panasonic's is Wednesday, so it shouldn't be long before we hear more about both pieces of this puzzle, and how other manufacturers plan to react.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD

Source: AV Forums

Alcatel shows off One Touch Idol Alpha's 4.7-inch display and light-up edges

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/alcatel-alpha/

Okay, so we wouldn't go so far as suggesting that Alcatel One Touch's Idol Alpha handset "takes creativity to a new level," but hey, the company's allowed to employ a little hyperbole in its press releases. That particular statement refers to the 4.7-inch handset's translucent edges, which give off light to signify things like charging and notifications. The company's also pretty psyched about the curves on the thing. "You will be attracted from the first glance of the device with its unique and sleek design which stands out from the market," according to Alcatel.

The above image likely doesn't do the curvy 7.5 millimeter thick aluminum-framed body justice (nor does it speak to the quad-core 1.2GHz processor inside), so we're holding off such attraction until we actually see one in person. Thankfully, we're already here in Berlin for IFA, so we should be doing just that in the not too distant future.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

HDMI 2.0 officially announced: 18Gbps bandwidth, 60fps 4K, 32 channel audio

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/hdmi-2-0-official-4k-60fps-32-channel-audio/

Only just after it leaked out, the folks at HDMI Licensing are announcing HDMI 2.0 officially. Arriving just in time for the wide rollout of a new generation of Ultra HDTVs, it adds a few key capabilities to the connection standard. With a bandwidth capacity of up to 18Gbps, it has enough room to carry 3,840 x 2,160 resolution video at up to 60fps. It also has support for up to 32 audio channels, "dynamic auto lipsync" and additional CEC extensions. The connector itself is unchanged, which is good for backwards compatibility but may disappoint anyone hoping for something sturdier to support all of those suddenly-popular dongles. The cables won't change either, as the group claims current high-speed Category 2 wires can handle the increased bandwidth. Some companies have suggested upgrade paths for their UHDTVs already on the market -- hopefully we'll find out more about those plans this week at IFA 2013.

Filed under: Displays, Home Entertainment, HD

Source: HDMI.org

ASUS Zenbook UX301 will have 2,560 x 1,440 touchscreen beneath Gorilla Glass 3 case (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/asus-zenbook-ux301/

The ASUS Zenbook Infinity first showed off its icy Gorilla Glass-clad curves at Computex back in June, and now it's resurfaced in a video that's making the rounds ahead of ASUS' press conference here at IFA. Incidentally, the video hints at a new name -- the Zenbook UX301 -- and also clarifies most of the main specs. According to the video, the UX301 will have a Retina-esque 13.3-inch, 2,560 x 1,440 multitouch display, a Haswell Core i7 CPU, 802.11ac WiFi and ASUS SonicMaster audio tech. The flagship Ultrabook will no doubt draw fans of thin design as well, thanks to the 15.5mm (0.64-inch) profile. We'll likely have a chance to play with it ourselves soon at ASUS's upcoming event, so stay tuned. In the meantime, there's a video after the break.

Filed under: Laptops, ASUS

Source: ASUS (YouTube)

HTC's ex-lead designer may have leaked info to China's Chengdu government

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/htc-ex-lead-designer-china-chengdu-government/

The latest development on the recent HTC saga reveals that Thomas Chien, the arrested ex-VP of Product Design, was possibly lured by the Chengdu municipal government to set up a phone company in China. According to Taiwan's Next Magazine (pictured above by sister publication Apple Daily), Chien flew to Chengdu several times in the first half of this year, which got HTC suspicious since it doesn't have any direct business there.

The alleged offer was that if Chien left HTC with some of the technology plus some money, then the municipal government would -- through another company it set up -- take care of the remaining costs for opening the factory, production and marketing. Previous reports say while still at HTC, the ex-exec had e-mailed some confidential Sense 6.0 files to external contacts, but there's no confirmation on whether those people are linked to the Chengdu government.

Filed under: Misc, Mobile, HTC

Via: Reuters

Source: Apple Daily (Chinese), UDN (Chinese), ET Today (Chinese)

Samsung enlists Lookout to make Knox security even more securely secure

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/04/lookout-knox/

Lookout's looking to get into the business of business mobile security, and business, we're told, is good. In fact, the company's kicking things off with a Samsung partnership that'll bring its security software to devices using Knox, a deal targeted toward the ever-growing world of bring your own device workplaces. As the company puts it on its blog, "Wherever Knox will be, Lookout will be there, too." Lookout's also promised some additional information on its push into the business world, which is set to become widely available before 2013 draws to a close. And who knows, maybe we'll get some more details during Samsung's IFA press event later today.

Filed under: Cellphones, Software, Mobile, Samsung

Source: Lookout Blog

Tuesday, September 03, 2013

Just Delete Me Is a Massive List of Links to Close All Your Accounts

Source: http://lifehacker.com/just-delete-me-is-a-massive-list-of-links-to-close-all-1245040101

Just Delete Me Is a Massive List of Links to Close All Your Accounts

Removing yourself from the internet is not always an easy task and the biggest problem is tracking down all your online accounts so you can delete them. Just Delete Me is a site that provides you with direct links to doing just that.

Just Delete Me is a list of the most popular web apps and services with links to delete your account from those services. Each one is color coded. Green is easy, yellow is medium, red is difficult, and black is impossible. When you click on a service, you're automatically taken to the page where you can delete your account so you don't have to go searching for it. Likewise, you can snag the Chrome extension and be taken to the account deletion page right from the URL bar when you're on a site, as well as get up to date information about whether an account is easy to delete before you sign up. If you want to keep track of your accounts and delete as many as possible, this is a good place to start. For a far more comprehensive list, check out the previously mentionedAccountKiller.

Just Delete Me | via Slate

The WikiLeaks Server That Hosted Cablegate Is for Sale on eBay

Source: http://gizmodo.com/the-wikileaks-server-that-hosted-cablegate-is-for-sale-1245720862

The WikiLeaks Server That Hosted Cablegate Is for Sale on eBay

Shopping for a new server? Want a piece of whistleblower history? Want to piss off Julian Assange? You can do all three of these things at once, if you buy the server that hosted hundreds of thousands of diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks a few years ago. And it still works!

WD upgrades NAS-friendly Red drives with 2.5-inch versions and 4TB desktop model

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/wd-red-drive-refresh/

If you're looking for hard drives built to withstand the rigors of network-attached storage, Western Digital has a treat in store for you. The company just expanded its Red line of NAS-ready drives to include 2.5-inch models in 750GB and 1TB capacities; both disks fit into smaller enclosures while maintaining the Red series' power and speed optimizations for always-on media servers. WD is offering a few perks for desktop users, too. The existing 3.5-inch range now includes a high-capacity 4TB drive, and every new Red model ships with NASware 2.0 technology that should improve reliability. All three Red variants are shipping today; the compact 750GB and 1TB disks respectively sell for $79 and $99, while the 4TB behemoth costs $229.

Filed under: Storage, Networking

Source: Western Digital

Acer Extend concept is a smartphone workstation, we go hands-on (video)

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/09/03/acer-extend-concept-smartphone-workstation/

In addition to letting us get our hands on all its IFA announcements today, Acer pulled back the curtain on a concept device. The Acer Extend prototype works similarly to the ASUS Padfone, letting you connect your smartphone to a clamshell-style dock with a display, keyboard and a 6,000mAh battery to recharge your handset.

For the purposes of the demo, a modified version of Acer's Liquid E2 smartphone was connected to the Extend dock via an MHL cable, though company reps said a market-ready version could include a retractable cord. Even more compelling, though, would be a wireless, Bluetooth-based solution.

In addition to offering much more screen real estate than a phone, the dock solution nets you a full-size, tactile keyboard, and Acer's optimized island-style layout to work with a smartphone's operating system. To that end, there are buttons for Mail, WiFi, Bluetooth and more -- more or less the options you'll find in an Android phone's Settings menu. Though the keyboard is tailored to a smartphone interface, the Extend lets you view apps such as Gmail in tablet format, meaning you'll reap the full benefits of the larger display. There's also a full-size touchpad on board.%Gallery-slideshow77226%

Filed under: Cellphones, Laptops, Mobile, Acer

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